Services
Post Adoption Services
During the post-adoption process, an adoption social worker follows up with the adoptive family and child to make sure that they are adjusting well and have the support/resources that they need. The social worker then prepares a written report about the adopted child, which is sent to the agency/facilitator/state (for domestic adoption) or the child’s placing agency for submission to the child’s birth country (for international adoption).
Domestic Post Placement Services
Schedule: The post adoption schedule and number of post adoption visits varies depending on the
facilitator/agency or state.
Overview of the Post Adoption Process: The adoptive family and child meet with the social worker; the social worker prepares the post adoption report and mails it to the appropriate person/place.
International Post Adoption Services
The most important part of the post adoption period is to have adoption social workers, who are specialized in the area of attachment issues, available to help adoptive families during their adjustment period and as needed throughout the life of the child. The social workers at the Family Network attend regular trainings and workshops on the topic of attachment and are fully available to assist adoptive families with the difficulties and challenges that they may face during their child’s adjustment period.
Throught the post adoption process, The Family Network helps adoptive families comply with the requirements of the placing agency and the country of their child’s birth.
Prior to their child’s placement, The Family Network prepares adoptive families in dealing with attachment related issues, by hosting an Attachment Workshop. The Attachment Workshop covers the following topics:
- Current research on infant brain development;
- Effects of trauma on the developing neurons & neuro-receptors before & after birth
- Post-traumatic stress reactions: the cause and cure;
- Dyadic resonance – mother/infant attunement;
- Affect regulation resulting from periods of intense mutual gaze (mother/child); and
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Parental influences that help develop “positive affect states” in infant/child, which are critical for the foundation of attachment.
Adoptive families are welcome to attend the attachment workshop for a second time after their child has been placed and TFN also welcomes the attendance of extended family members!
Schedule: For the benefit of the child and adoptive family, the country and the placing agency have specific post adoption schedules, which they expect The Family Network to fulfill.
Overview of the Post Adoption Process: The adoptive family fills out the a preliminary family form prior to each post adoption visit & gathers photos of their adopted child and family. The adoptive family and child then meet with the social worker and the social worker prepares the post adoption report. The post adoption report is sent to the adoptive child’s placing agency for submission to the child’s birth country.
Parent Support Group
The Family Network holds a Parent Support Group on the second Thursday evening of every month. This group provides adoptive parents with a chance to get together and discuss various topics of relevance or concern related to their adoptive family dynamic.
Anyone is welcome to attend and we invite you to give us a call to find out when and where the next Parent Support Group will take place.
Please call TFN for more information about the June 9th Parent Support Group
(831) 462-8954
